The Sun Also Rises

“You are all a lost generation.” p. 7 The first of two epigraphs to the book, attributed to Gertrude Stein. It suggests the ambitious goal for the novel of describing the concerns of a generation. “Robert Cohn was once middleweight boxing champion of Princeton. Do not think that I am very much impressed by that as …

1. How have Jake and Cohn changed by the end of the novel? By the end of the novel, Jakes world has mostly fallen apart. He has discovered how much like Cohn he really is, through the exposure of how little his own feelings seem to matter to Brett and how poorly he measures up …

The Challenge of Moral Value This book could easily be described as “immoral.” There are many characters doing things that parents would not want their children doing. Perhaps most shockingly, Brett seems to have sex indiscriminately. Jake betrays his friend Montoya by allowing Romero and Brett to disappear together. Cohn abandons his aging fiancee because …

(Lady) Brett Ashley Brett is a British woman who is divorced from an English nobleman and engaged to marry a poor Scotch aristocrat and veteran of World War I (Mike). She seems to circulate freely on a limited allowance from her divorce, and, though she is engaged to Mike, seems to have affairs with Robert …

Chapter XIX The fiesta has ended, and the people of Pamplona are cleaning up. Jake and Bill sit in the caf. Bill says he is going back to Paris, and Jake says he will stay away another week, while Mike plans to go to Saint Jean de Luz. They take the car through Basque country …

Chapter XVI The fifth day of the fiesta is struck with heavy rain. There are no bullfights, and the people congregate in the cafs and wine-shops. Jake is in his room shaving when Montoya walks in. Montoya mentions that the American ambassador is in town. Jake remarks that he knows that. Eventually, Montoya says that …

Chapter XVIIIMike, Jake, and Bill are sitting in the cafe on the last day of the fiesta. They notice large numbers of tourists and onlookers on the last day, and the streets are very crowded.They are joined by Brett, who asks if Cohn hurt Jake. She mentions that Romero has been hurt badly, but that …

Chapter XIV Jake goes to bed early and hears Cohn say goodnight to Brett. He hears Brett enter Mikes hotel room and hears them laugh. He cannot sleep. He spends some time thinking about his friendship with Brett and how he is now paying for that friendship-forced to listen, it would seem, to their lovemaking. …

Chapter XIII Harris, the Englishman, gives Jake a letter from Mike. Mike says that Brett was sick, and that the two of them had spent three days in San Sebastian before going on to Pamplona. Mike says that they will arrive in Pamplona on Wednesday. Jake asks Harris what day it is, and he says …

Chapter XI Jake and Bill board a bus to Burguete among several Basque peasants. Cohn saves a seat next to Bill on top of the bus for Jake while he buys some wine for the trip. When Jake comes back, Cohn stands in the shade watching them. The bus is crowded, and Bill and Jake …